Wellington Monument

The Wellington Monument is located in Phoenix Park, Dublin. It is the largest obelisk in Europe and the second largest in the world after the Washington Monument. The massive granite structure is a tribute to Arthur Wellesley, 1^st Duke of Wellington. The ‘Iron Duke’ was born in Dublin and traveled the world as a British Officer fighting for the Crown. After Napoleon escaped his exile from Elba he quickly regained control of France. It was Arthur Wellesley who was in command of an Anglo-Germanic Army who stopped Napoleon cold at Waterloo. The battle of Waterloo marked the last battle of the Napoleonic Wars. Afterwards Napoleon was again exiled to spend the rest of his days in Saint Helena.

A Dublin legend suggests that in 1820 there was a fund raiser in the vault under the pillar of the monument which was sealed up leaving the dinning ware, tables and chairs behind. A few weeks later it was noticed that a butler who was working the fund raiser at the monument was reported missing. He was last seen highly intoxicated in the vault of the monument. It was assumed that he had drunk too much and remained unconscious and unnoticed behind a screen while the room was being sealed.

County Wicklow, Ireland

I was able to visit the County Wicklow this past Saturday and immediately realized that the majestic beauty of Ireland has absolutely no bounds. There I found the ancient remains of the Monastery of Glendalough. The granite buildings that remain date back from the 10 and 12 Centuries. Ardmore Studios is also located in County Wicklow and many famous movies were filmed here in these wondrous mountains and splendid green valleys. Here is a list of Ardmore Productions filmed in and around County Wicklow.

• This Other Eden (1958)^[4]
• Shake Hands with the Devil (1959)
• Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960)
• The Mark (1961)
• The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)^[1]
• The Blue Max (1966)^[1]
• The Viking Queen (1967)
• The Lion in Winter (1968)^[1]
• Images (1972)
• Zardoz (1974)
• The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977)
• Excalibur (1981)
• Angel (1982)
• My Left Foot (1989)
• Fools of Fortune (1990)
• The Commitments (1991)
• Rock-a-Doodle (1991)
• In the Name of the Father (1993)
• Braveheart (1995)
• Space Truckers (1996)
• The Tailor of Panama (2001)
• Evelyn (2002)
• King Arthur (2004)
• Breakfast on Pluto (2005)
• Becoming Jane (2007)
• The Tudors (TV series) (2006 - 2010)
• The Last Furlong (2011)

Forms of Transport in Dublin

You have to love the forms of transportation in Dublin. There are a ton of Harleys in Ireland, more then I would have thought. I have seen mostly Sporters which makes sense given the small roads. Splitting lanes is tough on a bigger ride. I brought my riding gear with me but renting a cycle in Ireland is a small fortune. Unfortunately my funds are limited and work never rests but one never knows what magic will occur. Heck I am just fortunate to have an opportunity to live in Ireland for a few months. Attached are a few more cool forms of Transports that I came across.

Cockles and Mussels

Cockles and Mussels, or Molly Malone

Comic Song, Written and Composed by James Yorkston

In Dublin's Fair City
Where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheel'd her wheel barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive o!

Chorus
Alive, alive o!, alive, alive o!
Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive o!

She was a fishmonger
But sure 'twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they each wheel'd their barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive o!

Chorus

She died of a fever
And no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
But her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive o!

Chorus